Gold Cup poor crowd attendance

What is the possibility of running the July Festival on Friday and Saturday (culminating with the big one on Saturday).
Run the Gold Cup and some features on Friday (commence racing at about 2 pm) and every race on the Saturday to be a graded race.....

Give all trainers a chance to bring out their big guns over the two days......bring in the crowd on these two days

I really enjoyed the 3 night slam (night racing) in the July week that was held some time back.

Why can't this be brought back?

I have a completely different take on Greyville to what I read here. Not comparing facilities or the state of the track but merely commenting on the visual experience it offers I don't think there are many tracks that can touch it for bringing the action this close to the stands. You are almost right on top of the action in the closing stages of a race and this in my opinion is as good as it gets from an atmosphere and climax perspective. Sorry guys but I think it's unfair to knock Greyville as a venue as with a bit of work it could rate right up there.

With cots squeezing the average guy. is the disposable income still there?

The "JULY" has the magic touch and will probably always have a full house, its attended by many non racing people and the marketing is well done in advance.

Looking at the Gold Cup i am rather disappointed with that pic and certainly appears to be a drop in attendance?

The Gold Cup was not properly advertised. Simple as that.
Some of my buddies did not even know that Saturday was Goldcup.

There were a few there!

My understanding was that the Tote was significantly down last year on JULY day,not the least due to Technical blackouts with the Tote.
This year I understand the Tote was 7% down on last year!
This surely must be an indication that money is tight ,both for attending and betting.

Farawaysaint wrote: My understanding was that the Tote was significantly down last year on JULY day,not the least due to Technical blackouts with the Tote.
This year I understand the Tote was 7% down on last year!
This surely must be an indication that money is tight ,both for attending and betting.

.....is this 7% down on Gold Cup betting for the day compared to last year....or are you still referring to July day.... :huh:

Temporary Venues/"tents" from July Day had been dismantled. Hence the operators probably accepted early on that this day would not rival the July, nor prior Gold Cup days. Severe lack of marketing was obvious

i believe HAVAL MOTORS PINETOWN sponsored a race - What I would have done is organize a free Car giveaway starting from the begining of the Feature season - every person that attended a meeting at any KZN course would get a free entry especially the crowds at the July (even run it in the totes)- Then you have to be on track Gold Cup day to win - Haval(GWM) is trying to market its new brand(name) and range so not so hard to work out a deal surely?

Not so many punters in the stands as what their used to be, we were in the Champions room for the Prawns and it was OK, not brilliant but OK.

Lovely music and delicious food, just one concern. Lack of TV's was a HUGE negative. Think we only had 2 TV's and one was on the rugby on one corner side of the room :dry:

Went down for the last 3 races and I really enjoyed it.

I was told by the locals that Friday Nights at Greyville were good for attendances though, good vibes and atmosphere.